National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens

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Grounds of the National Botanical Gardens

The National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens (formerly National Botanical Gardens and Kandawgyi National Garden) (Burmese: ရုက္ခဗေဒယ္ယာဉ္‌‌; MLCTS: rukhka be da. u. yyany) is a 139 hectare botanical garden located in the alpine town of Pyin U Lwin (formerly Maymyo), Burma. It was first established in 1915 as the Maymyo Botanical Gardens by Alex Rodger, an Englishman. The original site was 30 acres, and was modelled after the Kew Gardens of England with the help of a Kew Gardens botanist named Lady Cuff. In 1917, the government granted it official recognition, and in 1924, the government declared the site a Government Botanical Reserve. On 1 December 1942, the Ministry of Forestry declared the Botanical Gardens a "protected forest area". On 1 December 2000, Than Shwe renamed it "Kandawgyi National Garden". It has been used to promote extensive ecotourism in Burma. Celebrations of the Gardens' Diamond Jubilee ensued from 14 December 2006 to 13 January 2007.

Terraced gardens at the entrance of the Gardens

The Botanical Gardens has 344 species of trees, 133 species of indigenous orchids, 25 rose species, and 6 land lily species. Herbal plants for traditional medicines are also grown. The National Botanical Gardens is managed by the Ministry of Forestry. 42 acres of the site are a protected forest area. The gardens are popular among tourists, who enjoy the rolling lawns and alpine landscape reminiscent of those in England. Endangered wild animals are also kept in the National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens, including Eld's Deer, Star Tortoise, Takin and Hog Deer.

References

• "Myanmar is celebrating National Gandawgyi Botanical Gardens Diamond Jubilee" (JPG). Ministry of Forestry. Retrieved 2007-01-08.